Wire-stretcher.



J. WRIGHT.

I WIRE STRETGHER.

APPLICATION mun MAY 24, 1909.

Patented Feb. 15,1910.

JESSE WRIGHT, OF WAPELLA, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented net; as, rare.

Application filed May 24, 1909. Serial No. 498,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn 'WRIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at \Vapella, county of Dewitt, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in lVire-Stretchers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to wire stretchers and more particularly todevices which are used to stretch all of the wires of a wire fence atthe same time, preparatory to stapling said wires to the posts.

The invention consists in certain novel features and combinations ofparts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the improvedwire stretcher is shown, Figure l is a perspective view of the deviceshowing the same as used in connection with a wire fence, Fig. 2 is adetail elevation of the thrust or spacing frame which is interposedbetween the standard and fence post and which guides the tighteningblock, and Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

In the drawing, an upright standard A is shown as spaced laterally atsome distance from a fence post B upon which the wires of the fence areto be stapled, and said standard carries at one side a laterallyextending spacing or thrust frame C in which the tightening block D ismovable lengthwise and horizontally. Said block is connected by means ofa chain E with an upright strip F clamped over the wires of the fence,and is adjustable in a horizontal direction by a screw spindle Grotatable in the thrust frame C by means of a hand crank H.

The standard A is preferably formed with a U-shaped base (4 havingpointed feet a which are driven into the ground in order to hold thestandard upright. Extending upward from the base portion a are twoupright bars a arranged parallel to each other and provided withlongitudinally extending series of perforations 64 At the top of thestandard the bars a carry hooks a that are adapted for the attachment ofchains a that are connected to pegs driven into the ground or anchor thestandard in any other suitable way.

The thrust frame G is preferably formed of a single casting made up ofupper and lower bars 0, 0 respectively, and an intermediate horizontalbar 0 provided with a longitudinal slot 0 The bars 0, c are inclined andthe end of the frame which is attached to the upright standard A is ofless width than the end which abuts against the fence post B. Thesmaller end enters between the upright bars a of the standard and isprovided with an enlargement c in the form of a flange which fitsbetween the bars a as shown in Fig. 1. Said flange has at one side anotch c in which the forward end of the screw spindle G is set prior tothe placing of the thrust frame within the standard. After this hastaken place a U-shaped clip 9 is placed over the end 0 the spindle G andsupported in the desired vertical adjustment by means of a pin or bolt 9passing through alining openings a of the standard, the clip 9 restingupon the top of said pin or bolt, as shown. The crank H is then placedupon the extremity of the screw spindle in close proximity to the clip9, as shown in Fig. 1.

The tightening block I) which is threaded on the screw spindle is guidedlongitudinally and prevented from rotation by means of the slot 0", fromwhich it protrudes, as shown in Fig. 3. Said block has a hook cl formedintegral therewith to secure the chain E.

The larger end of the thrust frame C is provided with a lateral flange 0having a perforation in which the corresponding end of the screw spindleis freely set, as shown in Fig. 2. The flange 0 is also provided with aseries of teeth 0 which are adapted to be driven into the fence post inorder to firmly hold the thrust frame in position.

In the operation of the device, it is only necessary to set up thestandard A in the manner previously indicated, with the thrust frame Gbearing against the fence post. The chain E connected with the clampingstrip F is then caught over the hook (Z of the tightening block, afterwhich the screw spindle G is turned in proper direction, by means of thecrank H, to cause the pulling forward of the clamping strip and thewires of the fence, so that said wires will be tightened. It is obviousthat when the wires have been tightened to a certain extent it is aneasy matter to staple them to the fence post while they are undertension, after which the tightening device is removed.

In order to hold the fence wires under tension while the tighteningblock D is moved toward the clamping strip for a further tighteningoperation, the clip 9 is provided at its opposite ends with hooks 9 (ofwhich only one is shown) upon which the cham E may be secured.

Although I have described the improved device as particularly adaptedfor use in constructing wire fences, it is obvious that the device isadapted for numerous other applications where a flexible member ormembers are to be put under tension for any urpose.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction shown, I claim 1. Ina wire stretcher, a standard embodying upright parallel bars, a spacingor thrust frame fitted at one end directly between said bars, a screwspindle journaled in said frame, a tightening block threaded on thespindle, and a clip supported on the bars of the standard and throughwhich the spindle passes.

2. In a wire stretcher, a standard embodying upright bars with a spacetherebetween, a spacing or thrust frame fitting at one end into saidspace, a screw spindle journaled in said frame, a tightening blockthreaded on said spindle, a clip embracing the bars of the standard andin which said screw spindle is rotatable, and means for supporting saidclip on the standard at a number of different elevations.

3. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a standard, a thrust frameextending laterally therefrom and comprising a single casting havingupper and lower bars and a slotted intermediate bar, a screw spindlejournaled in the thrust frame, and a tightening block threaded on saidspindle and guided in the slot of the intermediate bar.

at. In a wire stretcher, a standard embodying upright bars, a spacing orthrust frame provided at one end with a notch, a screw spindle carriedby said thrust frame and held at one end in said notch by the entranceof the thrust frame between the bars of the standard, and a tighteningblock threaded on said spindle.

5. In a wire stretcher, the combination of a standard comprising uprightparallel bars, a thrust frame having a notched flange at one end set inthe space between said bars, a screw spindle ournaled in the thrustframe and having one end resting in the notch of said flange, atightening block threaded on said spindle, a clip embracing the bars ofthe standard and in which the end of said spindle is rotatable, and apin passing through alining perforations in the standard and supportingsaid clip.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE WRIGHT. Vitnesses VERNELLE MoOoNKEY, JoHN THOMAS DAVIS.

